Sierra del Escambray

Although it would be a stretch to label these peaks at the center of the Cuban landmass "titans of elevation" (Pico San Juan rules them all at 1140m), there is no doubt that the Sierra del Escambray is one of the most attractive and varied hiking destinations in the country. Officially known as Gran Parque Natural Topes de Collantes, this region of wilderness between Cienfuegos and Trinidad is the type of place where adventures await.

For example, there is a hard-pan road about 100 km long that snakes through the park from Santa Clara to Trinidad, with a stop-over for the night in the nature-rich Topes de Collantes. Only the most hardy cyclists should attempt this in a single day, for the elevation changes leave your legs wanting nothing more than a warm bath all too soon. More typical would be the waterfall hikes that are abundant in the area. El Nicho will usually have a few tourists in the summer time to enjoy its beauty and it's by far the most accessible, with buses running pretty regularly the hour or so each way (5 CUC entrance fee). Salto de Caburní is less a curtain of water and than a cascading stream, but it's worth the 7 km roundtrip hike. Find the trail head just east of the Kurhotel Escambray in Parque Antiplano. Another shorter hike is the Sendero La Batata, which also originates in Parque Antiplano and leads to a cavernous pool that is great for some underground swimming.

For more on what is available for adventurous folks like yourself in the Sierra del Escambray, check out the included links.